Plot: What’s it about?
Stigmata is a film that I wanted to see in the theater but never got around to it, after seeing it on dvd, I wish I had. The film is visually and mentally stunning and IM going to try my best to give you some insight on the movie. Gabriel Byrne (The usual suspects) plays father Andrew Kiernan, a priest/scientist who works for a special division of the Vatican. His job is to report to locations all over the world where “miracles” have been reported. He then observes these supposed acts of God and with his knowledge of science, tests their authenticity. Well, father Kiernan has just been sent out on assignment to Belo Quinto in southeast Brazil where the local Catholic church has made claims that they have a statue that cries tears of blood….Anyone having an exorcist 3 flashback? The locals in Belo Quinto claim the statue has been crying blood due to the death of their Cardinal and head of the church, father Alameida. Father Kiernan has documented his findings and reported back to the Vatican that the blood seeping from the statues eyes is real. Now before I go any deeper into the review let me clue everyone in on what the “stigmata” is. A stigmata is a person (usually female) that has been chosen for a particular reason and mirrors Christ’s crucifixion. It consists of five stages, the nailing of bolth hands and feet, back lashings, the crown of thorns and the sword in the side. It is a blessing to receive the stigmata, only a chosen few will ever receive it. Usually those with an unshakable faith in God.
Which brings me to Frankie Paige, played by Patricia Arquette who has absolutely no belief in God or anything else for that matter. So why was Frankie, a hair stylist by day party girl by night chosen? Well, she’s got one person to thank for it, dear old Mom! Frankie’s Mom purchased a gift for Frankie while on vacation. Vacation where you ask? Belo Quinto southeast Brazil. See, Frankies Mom bought a rosary from one of the local street merchants and it just so happens that this rosary used to belong to father Alameida himself. Starting to see the connection? So, Frankie gets this rosary in the mail and discards it, thinking nothing of it or of the fact that her life is about to change. Now father Alamedia was trying to get a message across to people and his untimely death insured that his message would not get across, what message? Well, without giving away a key point of the film lets just say it would strike a hard but truthful blow to the Catholic religion. So thanks to good old Mom, it now seems that job of sending the message has now been unwillfully given to our heroin Frankie. The only problem is she must now deal with the horrors and living nightmares of the stigmata. And believe me they aint pretty!!! Word soon gets back to the Vatican that this young women from Pittsburgh has received the stigmata and father Kiernan is sent out to investigate. Thus our two leading characters meet up and the plot only thickens from there!
Well, I cant give away anymore so ill talk about the film itself and the talent assembled for it. Like I said earlier Stigmata is bolth visually and mentally stunning, the effects in the film are real cool and very well done. True you might need a strong stomach to view some of the torture scenes, but this is a great movie and not an Exorcist rip off in any way (for some reason people are saying that). The movie really makes you think and cringe all at the same time, and if your into supernatural-biblical type movies, this has your name written all over it! The film was directed by Rupert Wainwright and personally I think he did an awesome job at directing an awesome script. All the people that complained about this film making waves in the church and the Catholic belief…..Shut up!! Stop looking for something to complain about and realize this is a movie, for the purpose of entertainment, and a damn good one. Gabriel Byrne is very good in the role of father Kiernan, he just looks like a priest to me for some reason. Patricia Arquette is also outstanding in the role of Frankie, and she’s also a hottie! The emotion and punishment that she goes through is perfectly acted out by Arquette, and she’s got the “possessed” look down cold! Overall a great movie, very entertaining and defiantly worth checking out if weather your into horror, sci-fi, drama, or just plain edge of your seat shockers.
Video: How does it look?
MGM dvd, always good in my opinion, no difference here. 2.35:1 widescreen and visually mind bending. All the color schemes Wainwright laid out work remarkably. What he did basically was create a dark, stale, pallet so the vivid, brilliant blood reds would be three times as strong. The special effects, like blending present day scenes with old “crucifixion” black and whites is really something to look at. Some scenes were a little to dark, and some detail did suffer from it, but this was in rare instances. Overall a great film to look at, and that is extremely important in this film. Some of the effects shots and flashbacks come in so clear and sharp you’d swear they were done on HI-8 to give them that “live” look.
Audio: How does it sound?
5.1 surround sound and this film is one you will defiantly want to turn up. Just as much going on here to listen to as there is to look at. Very good sounding film,sharp and vivid no breaks in sound effects and dialog comes through very clear.Not much else I can say here except this is a definite surround sound must!
Supplements: What are the extras?
Well ive never been short changed from MGM and there not gonna start here. Theatrical trailer, deleted scenes (that are pretty good) and a full directors commentary track. Another nice little added extra is the choice of viewing the film with either the theatrical ending or the original concept ending. There’s also a pretty cool music video from Natalie Imbruglia. Another nice batch of extras from the folks at MGM.
